Heating Control System

ABSTRACT

A temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler is provided, including: a temperature sensor sensing hot-water restoration temperature of a space to be heated; a flow controller controlling the amount of restored hot water in the space; a hot-water restoration-flow detector detecting the amount of restored hot water flowing through a hot-water restoration pipe; a key input unit used to set hot-water restoration temperature and a minimum amount of restored hot water; and a controller controlling a flow controller so that when hot-water restoration temperature of a space sensed by a temperature sensor is equal to hot-water restoration setup temperature set by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows into a hot-water restoration pipe.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a heating control system and, more particularly, to a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler that controls indoor temperature, and a boiler water collection pipe incorporated in the temperature regulation system.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a combined heating and hot-water gas boiler heats water circulating through a heat exchanger and circulates the hot water to a heating pipe or to a hot-water heat exchanger.

That is, the hot water heated by the heat exchanger circulates through a hot-water circulating circuit for hot-water supply and heating.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the hot-water circulating circuit of the combined heating and hot-water gas boiler. Water is supplied to a heating pipe 4 of the gas boiler, and air in the heating pipe is discharged to a water tank 3 through a hot-water restoration pipe 1. The water in the heating pipe 4 is restored by the driving force of a circulation pump P and heat-changed when passing through a heat exchanger 6 heated by a burner 6. The hot water circulates into the heating pipe 4 through a hot-water supply pipe 7 by guidance of a direction-switching valve 2 in which a hot-water heat exchanger 8 is branched off.

The typical gas boiler having the above-mentioned pipe arrangement is controlled by a controller incorporated in a control box. The controller stops operating the boiler when indoor temperature (or hot-water restoration temperature) reaches a pre-determined setup temperature. In addition, the controller re-operates the boiler when the indoor temperature becomes lower than the setup temperature.

Thus, there is a problem in that the gas boiler is not excellent in heating efficiency since it frequently operates depending on the indoor temperature.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Solution

The present invention provides a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler that reduces the frequency of operation and non-operation of the boiler to improve the driving efficiency of boiler.

The present invention further provides a boiler water collection pipe incorporated in the temperature regulation system.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, when the hot-water restoration temperature reaches a temperature set by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the temperature is supplied so that the boiler can continuously operate. Thus, compared to a typical boiler system that controls a boiler by comparing the hot-water restoration temperature with a target temperature without controlling the amount of hot water, the present invention can prevent energy loss due to unnecessary start-up of boiler, resulting in an increased driving efficiency of boiler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pipe arrangement for explaining hot water circulation in a typical gas boiler;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a boiler water collection pipe of the boiler shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the boiler water collection pipe shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a flow control valve actuated by a valve actuator shown in FIG. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler, including: a temperature sensor sensing hot-water restoration temperature of a space to be heated; a flow controller controlling the amount of restored hot water in the space; a hot-water restoration-flow detector detecting the amount of restored hot water flowing through a hot-water restoration pipe; a key input unit used to set hot-water restoration temperature and a minimum amount of restored hot water; and a controller controlling a flow controller so that when hot-water restoration temperature of a space sensed by a temperature sensor is equal to hot-water restoration setup temperature set by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows into a hot-water restoration pipe.

The flow controller may be mounted on a hot-water collection pipe, and include: a flow control valve having a through-hole communicating a hot-water inlet with a hot-water outlet, a valve rod moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member coupled to an end of the valve rod to open/close the through-hole; and a valve actuator having a motor operating under control of the controller and gears moving the valve rod by operation of the motor.

The hot-water restoration-flow detector may be mounted on a hot-water outlet of the collection pipe, and include: a propeller rotating by hot water flowing into the hot-water restoration pipe; a rotating shaft connected to the propeller; a magnet mounted on the propeller; and a hole sensor sensing magnetic field of the rotating magnet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler, including: a key input unit used to set hot-water restoration temperature; and a controller controlling a flow controller that controls the amount of restored hot water so that when hot-water restoration temperature of a space sensed by a temperature sensor is equal to hot-water restoration setup temperature set by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows into a hot-water restoration pipe.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a boiler water collection pipe of the boiler shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the boiler water collection pipe shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a flow control valve actuated by a valve actuator shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected between a hot-water supply pipe 7 and a hot-water restoration pipe 1, each of which is connected to a boiler 30. The hot-water supply pipe 7 is connected to a hot-water distribution pipe 10 distributing hot water to indoor heating pipes. The hot-water restoration pipe 1 is connected to one end of a hot-water collection pipe 20 collecting hot water flowing through the indoor heating pipes and transmitting the hot water to the hot-water distribution pipe 10. The hot-water distribution pipe 10 has branches each of which is equipped with a manual valve 12 to control the flow of hot water entering into a room. FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of the hot-water distribution pipe 10, hot-water collection pipe 20, and manual valve 12.

The temperature regulation system includes a temperature sensor 16, at least one flow controller 18, and an indoor thermostat 14. It may further include a hot-water restoration-flow detector 22.

The temperature sensor 16 senses hot-water restoration temperature and transmits the restoration temperature to the indoor thermostat 14. The temperature sensor 16 is mounted on the hot-water collection pipe 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. At this time, the temperature sensor 16 is mounted on a collection inlet connected to the indoor heating pipe. FIG. 2 illustrates the temperature sensor 16 mounted on a collection inlet of the collection pipe 20. In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor 16 mounted on a collection inlet connected to a heating pipe of a largest room checks the hot-water restoration temperature.

The flow controller 18 controlling the restoration flow of hot water flowing through each of the indoor heating pipes is mounted on the hot-water collection pipe 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. One or more flow controllers 18 may be provided according to the number of indoor heating pipes connected to collection inlets.

The flow controller 18 consists of a valve actuator 18 a and a flow control valve 18 b. The flow controller 18 may be a heating valve described in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-6714 filed by the present applicant.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flow controller 18 includes the flow control valve 18 b having a through-hole 41 communicating a hot-water inlet 44 with a hot-water outlet 45, a valve rod 43 moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member 42 coupled to an end of the valve rod 43 and opening/closing the through-hole 41; and the valve actuator 18 a having a motor operating under control of a controller incorporated in the indoor thermostat 14, and gears moving the valve rod 43 by driving the motor.

The temperature regulation system further includes a hot-water restoration-flow detector 22 detecting the restoration flow of hot water flowing through the hot-water restoration pipe 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the hot-water restoration-flow detector 22 is mounted on the hot-water outlet of the hot-water collection pipe 20. The hot-water restoration-flow detector 22 includes a propeller 24 rotated by hot water flowing into the hot-water restoration pipe 1, a rotating shaft connected to the propeller 24, a magnet 28 mounted on the propeller 24, and a hole sensor 26 sensing magnetic field of the magnet 28 rotating with rotation of the propeller 24.

The hot-water restoration-flow detector 22 may be an additional member provided between the hot-water restoration pipe 1 and the hot-water outlet of the hot-water collection pipe 20.

The temperature regulation system includes an indoor thermostat 14 having a key input unit used in setting a hot-water restoration temperature and a minimum amount of restored hot water, and a controller controlling the flow controller 18 such that when the hot-water restoration temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 is equal to hot-water restoration temperature set by an operator, the amount of hot water required to retain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows through the hot-water restoration pipe 1.

The hot-water restoration temperature is set by the operator using the thermostat 17 to maximize the efficiency of boiler. The hot-water restoration temperature set by the operator should be lower than a programmed hot-water restoration temperature set by a boiler manufacturer to control the operation of boiler. The minimum amount of restored hot water set by the operator implies a minimum amount of restored hot water required to operate the boiler. The flow controller 18 is controlled such that the amount of hot water that is required to retain the hot-water restoration temperature set by the operator and is greater than the minimum amount of the restored hot water flows through the hot-water restoration pipe 1. Accordingly, the hot-water restoration temperature is maintained within a predetermined range of temperatures, preventing energy loss due to unnecessary operation of the boiler.

The operation of temperature regulation system will be described in detail. In the following description, it is assumed that hot water supplied upon operation of a boiler is set to a temperature of 80° C., a programmed restoration temperature is set to 70° C. by a boiler manufacturer, and the minimum amount of restored hot water is set to 4LPM. In addition, it is assumed that a boiler operator sets hot-water restoration temperature to 62° C. using the key input unit of the indoor thermostat 14, sets the minimum amount of restored hot water to 4LPM, and determines the size of each of rooms.

Under the above-mentioned assumption, when the boiler operates initially, a controller of the thermostat 14 sets a largest of the rooms as a reference room and fully opens the flow control valve 18 b of the flow controller 18. In this case, hot water having a temperature of 80° C. is supplied to the reference room through the hot-water supply pipe 7. The controller senses hot-water restoration temperature by means of the temperature sensor 16 mounted to correspond to the reference room. In addition, the controller controls flow control valves 18 b of flow controllers 18 for other rooms to reach the sensed restoration temperature. When the flow control valves 18 b of flow controllers 18 for the other rooms are opened, each of the other rooms begins to be gradually heated. After passing through each of the indoor heating pipes, the hot water flows into the hot-water restoration pipe 1 through the hot-water collection pipe 20 and then into the boiler 30.

As the boiler continues to operate, the hot-water restoration temperature gradually increases. When the hot-water restoration temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 reaches the temperature set by the operator, 62° C., the controller of the thermostat 14 controls the flow controllers 18 so that the amount of hot water required to maintain the restoration temperature of 62° C. can flow through the hot-water restoration pipe 1. At this time, the amount of hot water should be greater than the minimum amount of restored hot water to prevent the boiler from stopping operating.

The restoration setup temperature of 62° C. is maintained by gradually closing the flow control valve 18 b while monitoring the restoration temperature of hot water. In this case, when the restoration amount of hot water to be supplied to maintain the restoration setup temperature of hot water is less than the minimum amount of restored hot water, the boiler stops operating. Thus, it is preferable to control the flow control valve 18 b while monitoring the restoration amount of hot water. If the hot-water restoration-flow detector 22 is not included, the flow control valve 18 b is controlled and, at the same time, the restoration temperature of hot water is monitored.

As a result, the restoration temperature of hot water is maintained within a pre-determined range, such that the indoor temperature gradually increases.

Accordingly, compared to a typical boiler system that controls a boiler by comparing the hot-water restoration temperature with a target temperature without controlling the amount of hot water, the present invention can prevent energy loss due to unnecessary start-up of boiler, resulting in an increased driving efficiency of boiler.

When the indoor temperature reaches a target temperature, the controller of the thermostat 14 controls a control box 32 to stop operating the boiler.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, the present invention can effectively apply to a temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler, and a boiler water collection pipe. 

1. A temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler, comprising: a key input unit used to set hot-water restoration temperature; and a controller controlling a flow controller that controls the amount of restored hot water so that when hot-water restoration temperature of a space sensed by a temperature sensor is equal to hot-water restoration setup temperature set, by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows into a hot-water restoration pipe.
 2. The temperature regulation system of claim 1, wherein the flow controller is mounted on a hot-water collection pipe, and includes: a flow control valve having a through-hole communicating a hot-water inlet with a hot-water outlet, a valve rod moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member coupled to an end of the valve rod to open/close the through-hole; and a valve actuator having a motor operating under control of the controller and gears moving the valve rod by operation of the motor.
 3. A temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler, comprising: a temperature sensor sensing hot-water restoration temperature of a space to be heated; a flow controller controlling the amount of restored hot water in the space; a key input unit used to set hot-water restoration temperature and a minimum amount of restored hot water; and a controller controlling a flow controller so that when hot-water restoration temperature of a space sensed by a temperature sensor is equal to hot-water restoration setup temperature set by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows into a hot-water restoration pipe.
 4. The temperature regulation system of claim 3, wherein the flow controller is mounted on a hot-water collection pipe, and includes: a flow control valve having a through-hole communicating a hot-water inlet with a hot-water outlet, a valve rod moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member coupled to an end of the valve rod to open/close the through-hole; and a valve actuator having a motor operating under control of the controller and gears moving the valve rod by operation or the motor.
 5. A temperature regulation system operatively associated with a boiler, comprising: a temperature sensor sensing hot-water restoration temperature of a space to be heated; a flow controller controlling the amount of restored hot water in the space; a hot-water restoration-flow detector detecting the amount of restored hot water flowing through a hot-water restoration pipe; a key input unit used to set hot-water restoration temperature and a minimum amount of restored hot water; and a controller controlling a flow controller so that when hot-water restoration temperature of a space sensed by a temperature sensor is equal to hot-water restoration setup temperature set by an operator, the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature flows into a hot-water restoration pipe.
 6. The temperature regulation system of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on a collection inlet of a hot-water collection pipe, the collection inlet being connected to an indoor heating pipe.
 7. The temperature regulation system of claim 5, wherein the controller controls the flow controller so that the amount of water required to maintain the hot-water restoration setup temperature is greater than the minimum amount of restored hot water.
 8. The temperature regulation system of claim 5, wherein the flow controller is mounted on a hot-water collection pipe, and includes: a flow control valve having a through-hole communicating a hot-water inlet with a hot-water outlet, a valve rod moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member coupled to an end of the valve rod to open/close the through-hole; and a valve actuator having a motor operating under control of the controller and gears moving the valve rod by operation of the motor.
 9. The temperature regulation system of claim 5, wherein the hot-water restoration-flow detector is mounted on a hot-water outlet of the collection pipe, and includes: a propeller rotating by hot water flowing into the hot-water restoration pipe; a rotating shalt connected to the propeller; a magnet mounted on the propeller; and a hole sensor sensing magnetic field of the rotating magnet.
 10. The temperature regulation system of claim 5 wherein the key input unit and the controller constitute an indoor thermostat, the controller outputting a command to stop operating the boiler when indoor temperature reaches a predetermined setup temperature or boiler operation time reaches a predetermined operation setup time.
 11. A boiler water collection pipe connecting at least one indoor heating pipe to a hot-water restoration pipe, comprising: a temperature sensor sensing hot-water restoration temperature of hot water flowing in through a collection inlet connected to the indoor heating pipe; a plurality of flow controllers each controlling the amount of restored hot water flowing in through the collection inlet connected to the indoor heating pipe; and a hot-water restoration-flow detector mounted on inside a hot-water outlet to detect the amount of restored hot water flowing into the hot-water restoration pipe.
 12. The hot-water collection pipe of claim 11, wherein the hot-water restoration-flow detector comprises: a propeller rotating by hot water flowing in; a rotating shaft connected to the propeller; a magnet mounted on the propeller; and a hole sensor sensing magnetic field of the rotating magnet.
 13. The temperature regulation system of claim 6, wherein the flow controller is mounted on a hot-water collection pipe, and includes: a flow control valve having a through-hole communicating a hot-water inlet with a hot-water outlet, a valve rod moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member coupled to an end of the valve rod to open/close the through-hole; and a valve actuator having a motor operating under control of the controller and gears moving the valve rod by operation of the motor.
 14. The temperature regulation system of claim 7, wherein the flow controller is mounted on a hot-water collection pipe, and includes: a flow control valve having a through-hole communicating a hot-water inlet with a hot-water outlet, a valve rod moving from outside to inside of a body, and a valve member coupled to an end of the valve rod to open/close the through-hole; and a valve actuator having a motor operating under control of the controller and gears moving the valve rod by operation of the motor.
 15. The temperature regulation system of claim 6, wherein the hot-water restoration-flow detector is mounted on a hot-water outlet of the collection pipe, and includes: a propeller rotating by hot water flowing into the hot-water restoration pipe; a rotating shaft connected to the propeller; a magnet mounted on the propeller; and a hole sensor sensing magnetic field of the rotating magnet.
 16. The temperature regulation system of claim 7, wherein the hot-water restoration-flow detector is mounted on a hot-water outlet of the collection pipe, and includes: a propeller rotating by hot water flowing into the hot-water restoration pipe; a rotating shaft connected to the propeller; a magnet mounted on the propeller; and a hole sensor sensing magnetic field of the rotating magnet.
 17. The temperature regulation system of claim 6, wherein the key input unit and the controller constitute an indoor thermostat, the controller outputting a command to stop operating the boiler when indoor temperature reaches a predetermined setup temperature or boiler operation time reaches a predetermined operation setup time.
 18. The temperature regulation system of claim 7, wherein the key input unit and the controller constitute an indoor thermostat, the controller outputting a command to stop operating the boiler when indoor temperature reaches a predetermined setup temperature or boiler operation time reaches a predetermined operation setup time. 